Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW-MPT Document 119-2 Filed 11/17/22 Page 1 of 19 PageID #:
`12269
`
`Exhibit B
`
`

`

`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW-MPT Document 119-2 Filed 11/17/22 Page 2 of 19 PageID #:
`12270
`I 1111111111111111 11111 111111111111111 11111 1111111111 11111 lll111111111111111
`US008118316B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Berning et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,118,316 B2
`Feb.21,2012
`
`(54) OPERATIONAL METHODS FOR A
`ROAD-BUILDING MACHINE
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Christian Berning, Zulpich (DE);
`Dieter Simons, Buchholz (DE); Markus
`Schafer, Niederkassel (DE)
`
`(73) Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH (DE)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S .C. 154(b) by O days.
`
`(21 )
`
`Appl. No .: 12/911,301
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Oct. 25, 2010
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2011 /0163511 Al
`
`Jul. 7, 2011
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`2,926,023 A
`2/1960 Kraus
`3,477,733 A *
`11/1969 Gottschalk .
`3,895,820 A
`7/1975 Takahashi et al.
`4,247, 126 A
`li1981 Claxton
`5,046,008 A *
`9/1991 Dieter
`5,269,556 A
`12/1993 Heyring
`6,517,094 Bl *
`2/2003 Kincai d et al. .. ... ... 280/1 24. 106
`12/2003 Else1· et al.
`6,669,216 Bl
`7,055,832 B2
`6/2006 Germain
`
`. 280/124.161
`
`... 70 1/38
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`AT
`272115 B
`6/1969
`7/1967
`1963704 lJ
`DE
`2844413 Al
`4/1980
`DE
`EP
`0940274 A2
`9/1999
`EP
`0836659 B2
`3/2005
`7/1973
`216101 7
`FR
`2005053377 A
`3/2005
`JP
`9742377 Al
`WO
`11/1997
`* cited by examiner
`
`(63) Continuation of application No. 11 /885 ,460, flied as
`application No. PCT/EP2006/002151 on Mar. 9, 2006,
`now Pat. No. 7,828,309.
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Mar. 10, 2005
`
`(DE) ........ ................ 102005011052 U
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`B60S 9/12
`(2006.01)
`(52) U.S. Cl .
`.......................................... .......... 280/6.155
`(58) Field of Classification Search ............... 280/ 5.506,
`280/ 5.507, 5.508, 6.154, 6.155, 124.106,
`280/124.157, 124.158, 124.159, 124.16,
`280/124.161
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`Primary Examiner ---- Paul N Dickson
`Assistant Examiner - Robert A Coker
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm - Waddey & Patterson, P.C. ;
`Lucian Wayne Beavers
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`A method of operating a road-building machine involves a
`machine having a chassis with four ground engaging supports
`and four working cylinders conm .. 'Cting the ground engaging
`supports to the chassis. A height of the left front and right rear
`ground engaging supports is adjusted in a first direction. The
`height of the right front and left rear ground engaging sup(cid:173)
`ports is adjusted in a second direction opposite the first direc(cid:173)
`tion.
`
`20 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
`
`l._12 36
`
`48
`
`44
`
`38
`
`1= -
`
`;:52
`::':f
`
`46 56~
`
`42
`
`\
`
`58
`
`40
`
`WA-0014152
`
`

`

`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW-MPT Document 119-2 Filed 11/17/22 Page 3 of 19 PageID #:
`12271
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 21, 2012
`
`Sheet 1 of 9
`
`US 8,118,316 B2
`
`~12
`28
`{k_4
`
`42
`
`36
`
`40
`
`14~
`30
`6)}
`
`38
`
`FIG.1
`
`WA-0014153
`
`

`

`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW-MPT Document 119-2 Filed 11/17/22 Page 4 of 19 PageID #:
`12272
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.21,2012
`
`Sheet 2 of 9
`
`US 8,118,316 B2
`
`+---...__12
`28
`{k4
`
`48
`
`i-(60
`A
`
`B
`
`50
`42
`
`,c52
`1:::- ::::f
`
`l-12 36
`
`14~
`30
`
`6)}
`
`38
`
`44
`
`\
`
`58
`
`40
`
`FIG.2
`
`WA-0014154
`
`

`

`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW-MPT Document 119-2 Filed 11/17/22 Page 5 of 19 PageID #:
`12273
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.21,2012
`
`Sheet 3 of 9
`
`US 8,118,316 B2
`
`36
`
`l-12
`
`22
`
`54
`j
`
`p
`
`s
`
`7-
`
`./52
`r
`
`48
`
`50
`42
`
`66
`
`'\_70
`
`72_/
`
`66
`
`38
`
`68
`
`40
`
`FIG.3
`
`WA-0014155
`
`

`

`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW-MPT Document 119-2 Filed 11/17/22 Page 6 of 19 PageID #:
`12274
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.21,2012
`
`Sheet 4 of 9
`
`US 8,118,316 B2
`
`36
`
`t-12
`
`22
`
`54
`j
`
`p
`
`s
`
`7---
`
`1:52
`r
`
`48
`
`50
`
`42
`
`66
`
`\..70
`
`72_/
`
`178
`
`66
`
`38
`
`FIG. 4
`
`WA-0014156
`
`

`

`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW-MPT Document 119-2 Filed 11/17/22 Page 7 of 19 PageID #:
`12275
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.21,2012
`
`Sheet 5 of 9
`
`US 8,118,316 B2
`
`20
`
`✓12
`
`28
`
`36
`
`83
`
`79
`
`A
`
`B
`
`s
`
`154
`p
`
`48
`
`50
`42
`
`7
`
`r
`~52
`
`"Rolling" ✓80
`
`82
`
`FIG. 5
`
`38
`
`81
`
`84
`
`40
`
`WA-0014157
`
`

`

`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW-MPT Document 119-2 Filed 11/17/22 Page 8 of 19 PageID #:
`12276
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.21,2012
`
`Sheet 6 of 9
`
`US 8,118,316 B2
`
`Track
`Wheel base
`Milling width
`
`1700mm
`6200 mm
`2000 mm
`
`Area ratio cylinder front-rear
`
`Threefold floating axle
`1
`
`front
`left
`0
`50
`50
`
`front
`right
`200
`150
`-50
`
`rear
`right
`0
`50
`50
`
`rear
`left
`0
`-50
`-50
`
`Unevenness
`Overall height
`Cylinder
`
`right machine
`left
`rear
`front
`center center center center center
`
`roller
`left
`
`roller
`right
`
`100
`
`0
`
`0
`
`100
`
`50
`
`-9
`
`109
`
`Transverse[%]
`Longitudinal[%]
`
`-5.88
`1.61
`
`160
`140
`120
`100
`80
`60
`40
`20
`0
`-20
`40
`-60
`
`~~
`
`left
`
`front
`
`rear
`
`FIG. 6a
`
`WA-0014158
`
`

`

`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW-MPT Document 119-2 Filed 11/17/22 Page 9 of 19 PageID #:
`12277
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.21,2012
`
`Sheet 7 of 9
`
`US 8,118,316 B2
`
`Track
`Wheel base
`Milling width
`
`1700mm
`6200 mm
`2000 mm
`
`Floating axle rear
`
`front
`left
`0
`0
`0
`
`front
`right
`200
`200
`0
`
`rear
`right
`0
`100
`100
`
`rear
`left
`0
`-100
`-100
`
`Unevenness
`Overall height
`Cylinder
`
`right machine
`left
`rear
`front
`center center center center center
`
`roller
`left
`
`roller
`right
`
`100
`
`0
`
`-50
`
`150
`
`50
`
`-88
`
`168
`
`Transverse[%]
`Longitudinal[%]
`
`-11.76
`1.61
`
`200
`
`150
`
`100
`
`front
`
`rear
`
`left
`
`FIG. 6b
`
`WA-0014159
`
`

`

`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW-MPT Document 119-2 Filed 11/17/22 Page 10 of 19 PageID #:
`12278
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.21,2012
`
`Sheet 8 of 9
`
`US 8,118,316 B2
`
`Track
`Wheel base
`Milling width
`
`1700mm
`6200 mm
`2000 mm
`
`Floating axle front
`
`front
`left
`0
`Unevenness
`Overall height 100
`100
`Cylinder
`
`front
`right
`200
`100
`-100
`
`rear
`right
`0
`0
`0
`
`rear
`left
`0
`0
`0
`
`left
`rear
`front
`center center center
`
`right machine
`center center
`
`roller
`left
`
`roller
`right
`
`100
`
`0
`
`50
`
`50
`
`50
`
`50
`
`50
`
`Transverse[%]
`Longitudinal[%]
`
`0.00
`1.61
`
`100
`90
`80
`70
`60
`50
`40
`30
`20
`10
`0
`
`FIG. 6c
`
`WA-0014160
`
`

`

`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW-MPT Document 119-2 Filed 11/17/22 Page 11 of 19 PageID #:
`12279
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.21,2012
`
`Sheet 9 of 9
`
`US 8,118,316 B2
`
`L --
`
`t
`
`C' I C
`
`FIG. 7
`
`WA-0014161
`
`

`

`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW-MPT Document 119-2 Filed 11/17/22 Page 12 of 19 PageID #:
`12280
`
`US 8,118,316 B2
`
`1
`OPERATIONAL METHODS FOR A
`ROAD-BUILDING MACHINE
`
`25
`
`'Ibis application is a continuation of U.S. patent applica(cid:173)
`tion Ser. No. 11 /885,460 which is a U.S. National stage of
`PCT/EP2006/002151 filed Mar. 9, 2006, which claims prior(cid:173)
`ity based upon German application DE 10 2005 011 052 .5
`filed on Mar. 10, 2005.
`The present invention relates to a road-building machine,
`in particular a road-milling machine, a recycler or a stabilizer,
`of which the left front wheel or caterpillar, right front wheel or
`caterpillar, left rear wheel or caterpillar and right rear wheel
`or caterpillar is adjustable in height by means of an actuating
`member.
`When a road-building machine of this type travels over an
`obstacle, for example with only one front wheel, this one front
`wheel is raised by the amount of the height of the obstacle,
`while the other front wheel remains on the road. The road(cid:173)
`building machine is consequently set obliquely, with the 20
`result that the milling roller of the road-milling machine or the
`milling/mixing rotor of the recycler or of the stabilizer is also
`set obliquely. This effect has an especially disruptive effect
`particularly when the track of the machine is relatively low in
`relation to the wheel base.
`Various machines are known from the prior art which must
`react with a suitable way to unevenness in the ground on
`which these machines move, so that the stability of the
`machines is not at risk.
`U.S . Pat. No. 4,247,126 describes an agricultural machine, 30
`in which two front wheels and two rear wheels are provided.
`Each individual wheel can be adjusted in height, a working
`cylinder being provided on each wheel for this purpose. The
`working cylinders are partially connected to one another by 35
`corresponding lines, a hydraulic control system being pro(cid:173)
`vided which is designed such that either the front and the rear
`wheel on the left side or the front and the rear wheel on the
`right side of the agricultural machine can be raised or low(cid:173)
`ered. Thus, the machine, when it moves transversely with
`respect to a slope, can be straightened.
`EP O 836 659 Bl discloses a chassis of a road-building
`machine, said chassis having a frame carried on two front
`wheels and two rear wheels. The front wheels of the known
`chassis are suspended such that they can follow changes in the
`transverse inclination of the road topping contradirectionally
`and to the same extent. In order to couple the two front wheels
`in such a way that these move contradirectionally and to the
`same extent, the guides of the two front wheels are connected
`to one another via a corresponding mechanical or hydraulic
`coupling device. This arrangement, which is often used in the
`prior art, is also designated as a floating axle.
`The road-milling machine described in EP O 940 274 A2
`likewise has two front wheels which are adjustable in height
`contradirectionally and by equal amounts. On account of the 55
`positive coupling of the front wheels, the known chassis can
`react to elevations or depressions on one side of the road, in
`that one front wheel is lowered or raised, while the other front
`wheel executes a contradirectional movement. If, for
`example, there is an elevation of height a on one side, the 60
`corresponding front wheel is raised in relation to the machine
`by a/2, while the other front wheel is lowered in relation to the
`chassis by a/2. Thus, overall, the machine is raised by only
`a/2, thus improving the handiness of the machine and increas(cid:173)
`ing its driving comfort.
`In the prior art described above, there is the disadvantage
`that it is not possible to mount both the front wheels and the
`
`2
`rear wheels floatingly, with positive coupling, in the way
`described, since this would lead to an unstable position of the
`machine.
`When the machine is traveling along and is moving along
`5 a straight path, any obstacle in the form of an elevation or
`depression on one side of the machine is driven over not only
`by the floatingly mounted front axle, but also by the nonfloat(cid:173)
`ingly mounted rear axle. In the region of the nonfloatingly
`mounted wheels, the obstacle then acts to its full extent on the
`10 vehicle frame . This is detrimental to the stability of these
`machines. Moreover, where a road-milling machine is con(cid:173)
`cerned, the milling result is also impaired.
`The object on which the present invention is based is,
`15 therefore, to improve the stability of the road-building
`machines initially mentioned, as compared with the prior art
`mentioned.
`Furthermore, the object on which the present invention is
`based is to improve the compensation both of transverse
`inclinations of the road-building machines initially men(cid:173)
`tioned, which occur when obstacles are driven over and
`adversely influence the milling pattern of these road-building
`machines, and of unevenness in the longitudinal direction of
`these road-building machines.
`This object is achieved, according to the invention, by
`means of the features specified in patent claim 1. Advanta -
`geous embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of
`the subclaims.
`The road-building machine according to the invention has
`a left front wheel or caterpillar, a right front wheel or cater(cid:173)
`pillar, a left rear wheel or caterpillar and a right rear wheel or
`caterpillar. When a front wheel is referred to hereinafter, this
`is also understood to mean a caterpillar. Each of said wheels
`is assigned in each case an actuating member, with the aid of
`which the respective wheel is connected to the chassis of the
`road-building machine and can be adjusted in height in rela-
`tion to the frame or chassis of the road-building machine. The
`frame can thereby be adjusted in height and oriented in rela(cid:173)
`tion to the ground. In this context, a height adjustment of the
`40 wheels is simply referred to hereafter. According to the inven(cid:173)
`tion, the actuating members are connected rigidly to the chas(cid:173)
`sis of the road-building machine and are positively coupled to
`one another. The positive coupling is in this case designed
`such that the left front wheel and the right rear wheel are
`45 adjusted in height in the opposite direction to the right front
`wheel and the left rear wheel, the left front wheel and the right
`rear wheel being adjusted in height in the same direction.
`The road-building machine according to the invention is to
`be understood as meaning, in particular, a road-milling
`so machine, a recycler or a stabilizer. Road-building machines of
`this type are known to a person skilled in the art, and therefore
`a general description of these road-building machines in
`terms of their construction and functioning is dispensed with
`hereafter.
`If all the actuating members are designed identically, for
`example if cylinders having identical cross sections are pro(cid:173)
`vided as actuating members, the height adjustment takes
`place essentially by equal amounts on all the wheels. This is
`to be understood as meaning that the amounts may only
`theoretically be exactly equal, that is to say on the precondi(cid:173)
`tion that, for exan1ple, the machine frame is infinitely rigid,
`the contact area is totally inflexible and the oil is fully incom(cid:173)
`pressible. In practice, however, minor deviations cannot be
`avoided. It is also possible, however, to design the actuating
`65 members differently, for example to provide cylinders having
`different diameters, with the result that the tilting behavior of
`the machine can be influenced correspondingly.
`
`WA-0014162
`
`

`

`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW-MPT Document 119-2 Filed 11/17/22 Page 13 of 19 PageID #:
`12281
`
`US 8,118,316 B2
`
`3
`The positive coupling according to the invention ensures
`that the road-building machine according to the invention has
`high stability, this being particularly important in a road(cid:173)
`building machine having a narrow track. On account of the
`required transport dimensions, the track is generally rela(cid:173)
`tively narrow. The road-building machine according to the
`invention puts into practice virtually a floating mount of both
`the front axle and the rear axle, with the result that stability is
`decisively improved. The building machine is therefore
`capable of driving safely over surfaces with a relatively high 10
`inclination, without the risk of the machine overturning. Fur(cid:173)
`thermore, the permissible height of an obstacle which can be
`driven over by only one wheel of the machine is doubled, as
`compared with the prior art. In this case, a permissible height
`of an obstacle is to be understood as meaning the height which
`can be compensated by the raising or lowering of all the
`wheels of the building machine just such that all the wheels
`stand on the road, without, in the case of one of the wheels, the
`point being reached at which the wheel has completely run
`out or run in, that is to say the machine is "blocked".
`Basically, the actuating members may be designed, as
`desired, as long as they allow a raising or lowering of the
`wheels. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the road(cid:173)
`building machine according to the invention, however, the
`actuating members are designed as working cylinders, since 25
`these have proved to be particularly useful, in contrast to other
`solutions.
`In a further preferred embodiment of the road-building
`machine according to the invention, the working cylinders are
`double-acting working cylinders with a first and a second
`working chamber which are filled with a pressure medium,
`the working cylinders being connected to one another by
`coupling lines. A pressure medium which may be considered
`is, for example, a hydraulic oil.
`According to an advantageous embodiment of the road(cid:173)
`building machine according to the invention, the working
`cylinders are arranged in such a way that the filling of the first
`working chamber or the emptying of the second working
`chamber causes a lowering of the wheel, while the filling of
`the second working chamber or the emptying of the first
`working chamber causes a raising of the wheel in relation to
`the frame.
`In a further preferred embodiment of the road-building
`machine according to the invention, a first working cylinder is
`provided for the height adjustment of the left front wheel, a 45
`second working cylinder is provided for the height adjust(cid:173)
`ment of the right front wheel, a third working cylinder is
`provided for the height adjustment of the left rear wheel and
`a fourth working cylinder is provided for the height adjust(cid:173)
`ment of the right rear wheel.
`In order to afford particularly simple positive coupling
`according to the invention, in a particularly preferred embodi(cid:173)
`ment of the road-building machine according to the invention
`the first working chamber of the first working cylinder is
`connected to the first working chamber of the second working 55
`cylinder, the second working chamber of the second working
`cylinder is connected to the second working chamber of the
`fourth working cylinder, the first working chamber of the
`fourth working cylinder is connected to the first working
`chamber of the third working cylinder and the second work- 60
`ing chan1ber of the third working cylinder is connected to the
`second working chamber of the first working cylinder via
`coupling lines.
`However, since the positive coupling can also be imple(cid:173)
`mented by connecting the other working chambers in each 65
`case, in a further advantageous embodiment of the road(cid:173)
`building machine according to the invention the second work-
`
`4
`ing chamber of the first working cylinder is coruK"Cted to the
`second working chamber of the second working cylinder, the
`first working chamber of the second working cylinder is con(cid:173)
`nected to the first working chamber of the fourth working
`5 cylinder, the second working chamber of the fourth working
`cylinder is connected to the second working chamber of the
`third working cylinder and the first working chamber of the
`third working cylinder is connected to the first working cham-
`ber of the first working cylinder via coupling lines.
`In a further advantageous embodiment of the road-building
`machine according to the invention, the first and the second
`working cylinder are connected to one another via a first
`coupling line, the second and the fourth working cylinder are
`co1111ected to one another via a second coupling line, the
`15 fourth and the third working cylinder are connected to one
`another via a third coupling line and the third and the first
`working cylinder are connected to one another via a fourth
`coupling line.
`In a particularly preferred embodiment of the road-build-
`20 ing machine according to the invention, the working cylinders
`form, together with the coupling lines, a closed system. This,
`however, does not rule out the possibility of other hydraulic
`components being connected in another operating mode of
`the chassis.
`In a particularly preferred embodiment of the road-build-
`ing machine according to the invention, therefore, the cou(cid:173)
`pling lines can be connected to a pressure medium source
`and/or a pressure medium sump via working lines with the aid
`of a valve control, if appropriate with the positive coupling
`30 being briefly canceled. As a result, further settings on the front
`or rear wheels can be carried out independently of the positive
`coupling according to the invention, thus making it possible
`to use the chassis on terrains of the most diverse possible
`form. It is therefore possible, for example, to orient the road-
`35 building machine according to the invention horizontally,
`even though it is standing on ground with a transverse incli(cid:173)
`nation, in order at the same time to level out this ground by
`machining.
`A pressure medium source may be understood as meaning,
`40 for example, an oil pump, in which case the pressure medium
`sump may be formed by discharged oil within a collecting
`container.
`Ina further advantageous embodiment of the road-building
`machine according to the invention, the valve control is
`designed such that all the wheels are raised in a first operating
`mode and are lowered in a second operating mode, this taking
`place in each case by the same amount.
`In a further particularly advantageous embodiment of the
`road-building machine according to the invention, the valve
`50 control is designed such that each individual wheel can be
`raised in a first operating mode of the valve control and can be
`lowered in a second operating mode of the valve control.
`In a modification of the abovementioned embodiment of
`the road-building machine according to the invention, only
`one of the two front wheels is raised in a first operating mode
`and is lowered in a second operating mode. This means that
`the capability for the individual setting of the wheels relates to
`only the two front wheels.
`According to a further advantageous embodiment of the
`road-building machine according to the invention, the valve
`control is designed such that, in a specific operating mode of
`the valve control, the left and the right front wheel or the left
`and the right rear wheel or the left rear wheel and front wheel
`or the right rear wheel and front wheel are adjusted in height
`in the same direction and by the same amount.
`In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the road(cid:173)
`building machine according to the invention, the valve control
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`WA-0014163
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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW-MPT Document 119-2 Filed 11/17/22 Page 14 of 19 PageID #:
`12282
`
`US 8,118,316 B2
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`5
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`5
`can be operated in an operating mode restoring the positive
`coupling. In this embodiment, this ensures that the user can
`also cancel the positive coupling, in order to carry out addi(cid:173)
`tional settings on the individual wheels, before he changes to
`the positive coupling mode again.
`The invention is explained in more detail below by means
`of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the accompa(cid:173)
`nying figures in which:
`FIG.1 shows a diagrammatic illustration ofa first embodi(cid:173)
`ment of the road-building machine according to the invention,
`FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic illustration of a second
`embodiment of the road-building machine according to the
`invention,
`FIG. 3 shows a diagrammatic illustration ofa third embodi(cid:173)
`ment of the road-building machine according to the invention,
`FIG. 4 shows a diagrammatic illustration of a fourth
`embodiment of the road-building machine according to the
`invention,
`FIG. 5 shows a diagrammatic illustration ofa fifth embodi(cid:173)
`ment of the road-building machine according to the invention,
`FIG. 6a , 6b, 6c show the driving behavior of the road(cid:173)
`building machine according to the invention in comparison
`with the prior art, and
`FIG. 7 shows a diagrammatic illustration of the road-build(cid:173)
`ing machine according to the invention to make clear its
`stability.
`FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the road-building
`machine according to the invention which, in the fonn of the
`road-milling machine mentioned initially, has a milling roller
`W (FIG. 7) which is arranged between the front and the rear
`wheels of said machine. By contrast, the road-building
`machine according to the invention, in the form of the recy(cid:173)
`cler or stabilizer mentioned initially, has a milling/mixing
`rotor W (FIG. 7) which is arranged between the front and the
`rear wheels of the road-building machine.
`Amilling rollerofthis type or a milling/mixing rotorofthis
`type is known as such to a person skilled in the art, and
`therefore an exact description of the milling roller or of the
`milling/mixing rotor is dispensed with this at this juncture.
`The road-building machine according to the invention has 40
`a left front wheel 4, a right front wheel 6, a left rear wheel 8
`and a right rear wheel 10 which are merely indicated in FIG.
`1. The wheels 4, 6, 8, 10 allow a movement of the chassis in
`the driving direction which is indicated in FIG. 1 by the arrow
`12. Each wheel 4, 6, 8, 10 is assigned an actuating member 45
`which allows the height adjustment of the respective wheel 4,
`6, 8, 10. The illustration of the connection between the actu(cid:173)
`ating member and the individual wheel has been dispensed
`with for the sake of clarity. Here, for example, a guide device
`may be provided which is connected to the actuating member 50
`and on the end of which the corresponding wheel 4, 6, 8 , 10 is
`suspended via a bracket.
`In the embodiment illustrated, the actuating members are
`designed as working cylinders, all the working cylinders
`being identical in terms of their construction and their dimen- 55
`sions in the exemplary embodiment. Thus, the left front wheel
`4 is assigm .. 'Cl a first working cylinder 12, the right front wheel
`6 is assigned a S(.,'Cond working cylinder 14, the left rear wheel
`8 is assigned a third working cylinder 16 and the right rear
`wheel is assigned a fourth working cylinder 18. However, an 60
`arrangement of working cylinders of different piston diam(cid:173)
`eters is also possible. The characteristic of the road-building
`machine can be influenced by different cylinders being
`arranged on the front axle and the rear axle.
`The working cylinders 12, 14, 16, 18 are designed as 65
`double-acting working cylinders, so that the working cylin(cid:173)
`ders 12, 14, 16, 18 have in each case a piston-side first work-
`
`6
`ing chamber 20, 22, 24, 26 and a piston rod-side second
`working chamber 28, 30, 32, 34, which are separated from
`one another by pistons located in the cylinder. The first and
`the second working chambers 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 are
`filled with a pressure medium which in the present case is a
`hydraulic oil. What is applicable to all the working cylinders
`12, 14, 16, 18 is that a filling of the first working chamber 20,
`22, 24, 26 or au emptying of the second working chamber 28,
`30, 32, 34 causes a lowering of the associated wheel 4, 6, 8,
`10 10, while the filling of the second working chamber 28, 30,
`32, 34 or the emptying of the first working chamber 20, 22,
`24, 26 causes a raising of the wheel 4, 6, 8, 10.
`The working cylinders 12, 14, 16, 18 are com1ected to one
`another via coupling lines. Thus, the first and the second
`15 working cylinder 12 and 14 are connected to one another via
`a first coupling line 36, the second and the fourth working
`cylinder 14 and 18 are connected to one another via a second
`coupling line 38, the fourth and the third working cylinder 18
`and 16 are connected to one another via a third coupling line
`20 40 aud the third and the first working cylinder 16 and 12 are
`connected to one another via a fourth coupling line 42.
`The first coupling line 36 connects the first working cham(cid:173)
`ber 20 of the first working cylinder 12 to the first working
`chamber 22 of the second working cylinder 14. The second
`25 coupling line 38 connects the second working chamber 30 of
`the second working cylinder 14 to the second working cham(cid:173)
`ber 34 of the fourth working cylinder 18. The third coupling
`line 40 connects the first working chamber 26 of the fourth
`working cylinder 18 to the first working chamber 24 of the
`30 third working cylinder 16. The fourth coupling line 42 con(cid:173)
`nects the second working chamber 32 of the third working
`cylinder 16 to the second working chamber 28 of the first
`working cylinder 12. The working cylinders 12, 14, 16, 18
`form, together with the coupling lines 36, 38, 40, 42, a closed
`35 system.
`The functioning of the road-building machine according to
`the invention from FIG.1 is described below. When theroad(cid:173)
`building machine according to the invention drives, for
`example with the left front wheel 4 of the chassis 2, over an
`obstacle of, for example, a height of 400 mm, the piston in the
`first working cylinder 12 is retracted by I 00 mm on account of
`the weight of the vehicle. The pressure medium is thus
`pressed out of the first working chamber20 of the first work(cid:173)
`ing cylinder 12 via the first coupling line 36 into the first
`working chamber 22 of the second working cylinder 14. In
`this case, the pressure medium is pressed out of the second
`working chamber 32 of the third working cylinder 16 via the
`fourth coupling line 42 into the second working chamber 28
`of the first working cylinder 12. On account of the positive
`coupling, the pistons in the second and the third working
`cylinder 14, 16 are mo ved in the opposite direction to the
`piston of the first working cylinder 12 and by the san1e
`amount, that is to say I 00 mm. Since the second and the third
`working cylinder 14, 16, in tum, are connected to the fourth
`working cylinder 18 via the second and the third coupling line
`38, 40 in the way described above, this has the effect that the
`piston in the fourth working cylinder 18 is moved in the same
`direction and by the same amount as the piston of the first
`working cylinder 12. Thus, the left front wheel 4 and the right
`rear wheel 10 are adjusted in height in the opposite direction
`to the right front wheel 6 and the left rear wheel 8, the left
`front wheel 4 and the right rear wheel 10 being adjusted in
`height in the same direction, and the height adjustment taking
`place by equal amounts on all the wheels 4, 6, 8, 10. It may be
`noted that the pistons of the cylinders are moved by only I 00
`mm, while the height of the obstacle is 400 mm, with the
`result that the driving comfort and stability are improved. In
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`WA-0014164
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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW-MPT Document 119-2 Filed 11/17/22 Page 15 of 19 PageID #:
`12283
`
`US 8,118,316 B2
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`5
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`7
`this case, the overall level of the road-building machine is
`raised by 100 mm in this exemplary embodiment.
`Further embodiments of the road-building machine
`according to the invention are described below with reference
`to FIGS. 2 to 4 and all have the same basic strncture and
`functioning as were described with reference to FIG. 1, and
`therefore identical parts are given the same reference symbols
`and the above description applies correspondingly. For this
`reason, only the additional features of the further embodi(cid:173)
`ments are dealt with below.
`In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the first cou(cid:173)
`pling line 36 is connected to the third coupling line 40 via a
`first com1ecting line 44. Furthermore, the second coupling
`line 38 is connected to the fourth coupling line 42 via a second
`conm .. 'Cting line 46. Moreover, a first working line 48 is pro(cid:173)
`vided, which is connected to the first connecting line 44, and
`a second working line 50 is provided, which is connected to
`the second connecting line 46. The first and the second work(cid:173)
`ing line 48, 50 issue into a pressure medium sump, a pressure
`medium source 54 in the fonn of an oil pump being provided, 20
`furthermore, in the first working line 48.
`The second embodiment has, furthermore, a valve control
`which comprises a first directional valve 56 in the first con(cid:173)
`necting line 44, a second directional valve 58 in the second
`connecting line 46 and a third directional valve 60 in the 25
`working lines 48, 50. When the third directional valve 60 is
`brought into the position a, while the first and the second
`directional valve 56, 58 are opened, pressure medium flows
`from the pressure medium source 54 via the corresponding
`lines into the second working chamber 28, 30, 32, 34 of the 30
`working cylinders 12, 14, 16, 18. In reaction, the pressure
`medium is pressed out of the first working chan1ber 20, 22, 24,
`26 of the working cylinders 12, 14, 16, 18 and is discharged
`via the corresponding lines into the pressure medium sump
`52. In this first operating mode, the positive coupling 35
`described above is consequently canceled briefly, and the
`wheels 4, 6, 8, 10 are raised by equal amounts. In a second
`operating mode, in which the third directional